Enter GREMIO, with LUCENTIO in the habit of a | And, toward the education of your daughters, mean man; PETRUCHIO, with HORTENSIO as a Musician; and TRANIO, with BIONDELLO bearing a lute and books. Of that report which I so oft have heard. [Presenting HORTENSIO. Bap. You're welcome, Sir; and he, for your good sake: But for my daughter Katharine,-this I know, Gre. Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray, Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too: Baccare! you are marvellous forward. Pet. O, pardon me, signior Gremio; I would fain be doing. Gre. I doubt it not, Sir; but you will curse your wooing. Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I am sure of it. To express the like kindness myself, that have been more kindly beholden to you than any, I freely give unto you this young scholar, [Presenting LUCENTIO.] that hath been long studying at Rheims; as cunning in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other in music and mathematics: his name is Cambio; pray, accept his service. Bap. A thousand thanks, signior Gremio: welcome, good Cambio.-But, gentle Sir, [To TRANIO.] methinks, you walk like a stranger; May I be so bold to know the cause of your coming? Tra. Pardon me, Sir, the boldness is mine That, being a stranger in this city here, [own; Do make myself a suitor to your daughter, Unto Bianca, fair, and virtuous. Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me, * A proverbial exclamation then in use. I here bestow a simple instrument, [books: And this small packet of Greek and Latin If you accept them, then their worth is great. Bap. Lucentio is your name? of whence, I pray? Tra. Of Pisa, Sir; son to Vincentio. You shall go see your pupils presently. Sirrah, lead Enter a SERVANT. These gentlemen to my daughters; and tell them both, These are their tutors; bid them use them well. [Exit SERVANT, with HORTENSIO, LUCENTIO, and BIONDELLO. We will go walk a little in the orchard, Pet. Signior Baptista, my business asketh And every day I cannot come to woo. [haste, You knew my father well; and in him, me, Left solely heir to all his lands and goods, Which I have better'd rather than decreas'd: Then tell me,-if I get your daughter's love, What dowry shall I have with her to wife? Bap. After my death, the one half of my lands: And, in possession, twenty thousand crowns. tain'd, This is, her love; for that is all in all. Pet. Why, that is nothing; for I tell you, father, I am as peremptory as she proud-minded; Though little fire grows great with little wind, thy speed! But be thou arm'd for some unhappy words. Pet. Ay, to the proof; as mountains are for winds, Frets, call you these? quoth she: I'll fume with them: [head, And, with that word, she struck me on the And through the instrument. my pate made And there I stood amazed for a while, [way; As on a pillory, looking through the lute: While she did call me,-rascal fiddler, And-twangling Jack; with twenty such vile terms, As she had studied to misuse me so. Pet. Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench; I love her ten times more then e'er I did: 0, how I long to have some chat with her! Bap. Well, go with me, and be not so discomfited: Proceed in practice with my younger daughter; And woo her with some spirit when she comes. And say-she uttereth piercing eloquence: When I shall ask the banns, and when be married : But here she comes; and now, Petruchio, speak. Enter KATHARINA. Good-morrow, Kate; for that's your name, hear. I Kath. Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing; They call me-Katharine, that do talk of me. Pet. You lie, in faith; for you are call'd plain Kate, And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst; For dainties are all cates: and therefore, Kate, Remove you hence: I knew you at the first, Pet. Why, what's a moveable? Pet. Thou hast hit it: come, sit on me. Kath. Well ta'en, and like a buzzard. Pet. O, slow-wing'd turtle! shall a buzzard take thee? Kath. Ay, for a turtle; as he takes a buzzard. Pet. Come, come, you wasp; i'faith, you are too angry. Kath. If I be waspish, best beware my sting. Pet. My remedy is then, to pluck it out. Kath. Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies. Pet. Who knows not where a wasp doth wear his sting? In his tail. Kath. In his tongue. Kath. Yours, if you talk of tails; and so farewell. Pet. What, with my tongue in your tail? nay, come again, Good Kate; I am a gentleman. Kath. That I'll try. [ Striking him. Pet. I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again. Kath. So may you lose your arms: If you strike me, you are no gentleman; Pet. A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy books. hen. Kath. No cock of mine, you crow too like a craven. Pet. Nay, come, Kate, come; you must not look so sour. Kath. It is my fashion, when I see a crab. Pet. Why, here's no crab; and therefore look not sour. Kath. There is, there is. Pet. Then show it me. Kath. Had I a glass, I would. Pet. What, you mean my face? Kath. Well aim'd oft such a young one. Pet. Now, by Saint George, I am too young for you. Kath. Yet you are wither'd. Kath. I care not. Pet. Nay, hear you, Kate: in sooth, you 'scape not so. Kath. I chafe you, if I tarry; let me go. Pet. No, not a whit; I find you passing gentle. 'Twas told me, you were rough, and coy, and sullen, And now I find report a very liar ; courteous; But slow in speech, yet sweet as spring-time flowers: [askance, Thou canst not frown, thou canst not look Nor bite the lip, as angry wenches will; Nor hast thou pleasure to be cross in talk; But thou with mildness entertain'st thy wooers, With gentle conference, soft and affable. Why does the world report, that Kate doth limp? O slanderous world! Kate, like the hazle-twig, Is straight, and slender ; and as brown in hue As hazel nuts, and sweeter than the kernels. O, let me see thee walk: thou dost not halt. Kath. Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st command. Pet. Did ever Dian so become a grove, As Kate this chamber with her princely gait? O, be thou Dian, and let her be Kate; And then let Kate be chaste, and Dian sport- ¦ Bap. I know not what to say: but give me ful! Kath. Where did you study all this goodly speech? Pet. It is extempore from my mother-wit. Kath. A witty mother! witless else her son. Pet. Am I not wise? your hands; God send you joy, Petruchio! 'tis a match. Gre. Tra. Amen, say we; we will be wit nesses. Pet. Father, and wife, and gentlemen, adieu; I will to Venice, Sunday comes apace:We will have rings, and things, and fine array; Pet. Marry, so I mean, sweet Katharine in And kiss me, Kate, we will be married o'Sunthy bed: Kath. Yes; keep you warm. And therefore, setting all this chat aside, Thus in plain terms:-Your father hath con sented [on; That you shall be my wife; your dowry 'greed And, will you, nill you, I will marry you. Now, Kate, am a husband for your turn; For, by this light, whereby I see thy beauty, (Thy beauty, that doth make me like thee well,) Thou must be married to no man but me: For I am he, am born to tame you, Kate; And bring you from a wild cat to a Kate Conformable, as other household Kates. Here comes your father; never make denial, I must and will have Katharine to my wife. Re-enter BAPTISTA, GREMIO, and TRANIO. Signior Petruchio: How speed you with Pet. How but well, Sir? how but well? Kath. Call you me, daughter? now I promise you, You have show'd a tender fatherly regard, That talk'd of her, have talk'd amiss of her; For patience she will prove a second Grissel; That upon Sunday is the wedding-day. Kath. I'll see thee hang'd on Sunday first. Gre. Hark, Petruchio! she says, she'll see thee hang'd first. Tra. Is this your speeding? nay, then good night our part! Pet. Be patient, gentlemen; I choose her for myself; If she and I be pleas'd, what's that to you? day. [Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATHARINE, severally. Gre. Was ever match clapp'd up so suddenly? Bap. Faith, gentlemen, now I play a merchant's part, And venture madly on a desperate mart. Tra. And I am one, that love Bianca more Than words can witness, or your thoughts can guess. Gre. Youngling! thou canst not love so dear as I. Tra. Grey-beard! thy love doth freeze. Skipper, stand back; 'tis age, that nourisheth. risheth. Bap. Content you, gentlemen; I'll compound this strife: "Tis deeds, must win the prize; and he, of both, That can assure my daughter greatest dower, Shall have Bianca's love. Say, signior Gremio, what can you assure her? Gre. First, as you know, my house within the city Is richly furnished with plate and gold; land! My land amounts not to so much in all: * Coverings for beds; now called counterpanes. ses, Than three great argosies; besides two gallias- | But learn my lessons as I please myself. [her, And twelve tight gallies: these I will assure And twice as much, whate'er thou offers next. Gre. Nay, I have offer'd all, I have no more; And she can have no more than all I have;If you like me, she shall have me and mine. Tra. Why, then the maid is mine from all the world, By your firm promise; Gremio is out-vied. Bap. I must confess, your offer is the best; And, let your father make her the assurance, She is your own; else, you must pardon me: If you should die before him, where's her dówer? Tra. That's but a cavil; he is old, I young. Gre. And may not young men die, as well as old? Bup. Well, gentlemen, [know, I am thus resolv'd:-On Sunday next, you My daughter Katharine is to be married': Now, on the Sunday following, shall Bianca Be bride to you, if you make this assurance; If not, to signior Gremio: And so I take my leave, and thank you both. Sirrah, young gamester, your father were a fool [Exit. Tra. A vengeance on your crafty wither'd hide! ; Yet I have faced it with a card of ten.t "Tis in my head to do my master good:I see no reason, but suppos'd Lucentio Must get a father, call'd-suppos'd Vincentio And that's a wonder: fathers, commonly, Do get their children; but, in this case of wooing, A child shall get a sire, if I fail not of my cunning. [Exit. [To BIANCA.HORTENSIO retires. Luc. That will be never ;-tune your instrument. Bian. Where left we last? Luc. Here, madam : Hac ibat Simois; hic est Sigeia tellus ; Luc. Hac ibat, as I told you before,-Simois, I am Lucentio,-hic est, son unto Vincentio of Pisa,-Sigeia tellus, disguised thus to get your love;-Hic steterat, and that Lucentio that comes a wooing,-Priami, is my man Tranio,-regia, bearing my port,-celsa senis, that we might beguile the old pantaloon.* Hor. Madam, my instrument's in tune. [Returning. Bian. Let's hear;- [HORTENSIO plays. O fie! the treble jars. Luc. Spit in the hole, man, and tune again. Bian. Now let me see if I can construe it: Hac ibat Simois, I know you not; hic est Sigeia tellus, I trust you not;-Hic steterat Priami, take heed he hear us not;-regia, presume not; -celsa senis, despair not. Hor. Madam, 'tis now in tune. Luc. All but the base. Hor. The base is right; 'tis the base knave that jars. How fiery and forward our pedant is! Bian. In time I may believe, yet I mistrust. Was I should be arguing still upon that doubt: My lessons make no music in three parts. And watch withal; for, but I be deceiv'd, [Aside. Hor. Madam, before you touch the instru To learn the order of my fingering, Bian. Why, I am past my gamut long ago. A re, to plead Hortensio's passion; C faut, that loves with all affection; D sol re, one cliff, two notes have I; E la mi, show pity, or I die. Call you this gamut? tut! I like it not: Old fashions pleaseme best; I am not so nice, To change true rules for odd inventions. Enter a SERVANT. Serv. Mistress, your father prays you leave your books, Tra. But, say, what:-To thine old news. Bion. Why, Petruchio is coming, in a new hat and an old jerkin; a pair of old breeches, And help to dress your sister's chamber up; thrice turned; a pair of boots that have been You know, to-morrow is the wedding-day. candlecases, one buckled, another laced; an Bian. Farewell, sweet masters, both; I must old rusty sword ta'en out of the town armory, be gone. [Exeunt BIANCA and SERVANT. broken points: His horse hipped with an old with a broken hilt, and chapeless; with two Luc. Faith mistress, then I have no cause to mothy saddle, the stirrups of no kindred: be[Exit. Hor. But I have cause to pry into this pe-mose in the chine; troubled with the lampass, sides, possessed with the glanders, and like to stay. dant; Methinks, he looks as though he were in love:-infected with the fashions, full of wind-galls, sped with spavins, raied with the yellows, past cure of the fives,t stark spoiled with the stag Yet if thy thoughts, Bianca, be so humble, Seize thee, that list: If once I find thee rang-gers, begnawn with the bots; swayed in the ing, Hortensio will be quit with thee by changing House. Enter BAPTISTA, GREMIO, TRANIO, KATHARINE, back, and shoulder-shotten; ne'er-legged bestall of sheep's leather; which, being restrainfore, and with a half-checked bit, and a headed to keep him from stumbling, hath been often burst, and now repaired with knots: one girt six times pieced, and a woman's crupper of velure, which hath two letters for her name, fairly set down in studs, and here and there pieced with packthread." Bap. Who comes with him? Bup. Signior Lucentio, [To TRANIO.] this is the 'pointed day [ried, Bion. O, Sir, bis lackey, for all the world caThat Katharine and Petruchio should be mar-parisoned like the horse; with a linen stocks And yet we hear not of our son-in-law: on one leg, and a kersey boot-hose on the other, What will be said? what mockery will it be, gartered with a red and blue list; an old hat, To want the bridegroom, when the priest and The humour of forty fancies pricked in't for a feather: a monster, a very monster in apparel; and not like a Christian footboy, or a gentleman's lackey. attends To speak the ceremonial rites of marriage? To give my hand, oppos'd against my heart, Yet never means to wed where he hath woo'd. Tra. Patience, good Katharine, and Bap- Upon my life, Petruchio means but well, [Exit, weeping, followed by BIANCA, and others. For such an injury would vex a saint, Tra. 'Tis some odd humour pricks him to Yet oftentimes he goes but mean apparell'd. A horse and a man is more than one, and yet Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO. at home? Bap. You are welcome, Sir. Pet. Were it better I should rush in thus. And wherefore gaze this goodly company; Bap. Why, Sir, you know, this is your wed ding-day: First were we sad, fearing you would not come; Tra. And tell us, what occasion of import * Farcy. Vives; a distemper in horses, little differing from the strangles. + Velvet. Stocking. |